Against the backdrop of Centre proposal to constitute an autonomous council–‘Frontier Naga Territory’, for the six eastern districts, hundreds of people under the banner of Easter Sumi Hoho on Thursday took part in the “peace rally” at Seyochung town, demanding merger of Eastern Sumi areas under Zunheboto district.
Participants at the rally were seen with placards that read– “We will not live under autonomous council,” “Let Eastern Sumi and ENPO live separately”, “We demand merging Eastern Sumi area with Zunheboto district,”etc.
After the rally, a memorandum signed by ESH president L Kahuvi Sumi and general secretary Bothuka Sumi was submitted to chief minister Neiphiu Rio through the ADC, reiterating their demand for merging with Zunheboto district.
In the memorandum, ESH declared that the Sumi tribe of Eastern Nagaland, “do hereby solemnly reaffirm and reiterate the Eastern Sumi public resolution dated 25th October 2022 at Nikiye village to continue to exist politically, economically and administratively with present state of Nagaland in the event any negotiated solution is made between Govt of India and ENPO.”
ESH, therefore, appealed to the chief minister “to exclude Eastern Sumi territory and its population census and electoral roll from the purview of the demand or negotiation/solution/settlement that may take place between the government of India and ENPO and include/merge with Zunheboto district, which is the immediate district with land continuity.”
ESH demanded that since right to life and personal liberty were fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens, their choice should be respected and honoured.
Eastern Sumis demand merger with Zunheboto district
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